THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY:

Reunion after 15 years … some friends aren’t what they seem. Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall.

1. MAN OF STEEL:

Henry Cavill (The Tudors) is the title character here in this interesting retelling of the Superman legend beginning with the soon-to-be man of steel an itinerant construction worker who soon sees his future. Cavill would not allow any digital retouching of his physique for the two shirtless scenes that he plays and went on a 1,500-a-day calorie diet for three months, working out for three hours a day, to achieve the washboard abs that he felt the real Superman would have sported. I liked the movie, once I got used to the changes in the Superman legend … Amy Adams is Lois Lane, Russell Crowe is Jor-El, young Kal-el’s father, and Michael Shannon is diabolical a General Zod. Rated 14A.

2. TURBO:

An animated feature that is a little far-fetched for even the most imaginative child, imagine a combination of Cars and Sponge Bob Squarpants. Here we have a common garden snail who, after a strange and wonderful accident, achieves speeds that enable him to enter the Indy 500, complete with a molluscan pit crew. From the producers of Madagascar, this one is fine for small fry … very small … fry! Voices of Ryan Reynolds and Paul Giamatti slug it out on the race course. Rated PG.

3. FRANCIS HA:

Interesting film because of its behind-the-scenes trivia … it’s written and directed by Noah Baumbach who did Madagascar 3 and The Squid and the Whale, and has among its cast yet another Gummer girl in the acting game in addition to her sister Mamie, this one is Grace Gummer. Her mom is Meryl Streep. It’s an offbeat story of a New York woman who doesn’t actually live anywhere, who takes on the job of a dancer, although she can’t dance, has a best friend to whom she doesn’t speak, and throws herself into life with full abandon, although she has nothing at all. Interesting character study … but very, very odd! Rated 14A.

MAN OF STEEL:

No Lex Luthor yet, but a great start to a new Superman franchise.

SUPERMAN (1978):

Christopher Reeve was at his best, BC girl Margot Kidder was a terrific Lois Lane, and the special effects for the time were sensational.